MARENGO, ILLINOIS — A plumbing worker was hospitalized Friday afternoon after a chunk of ice fell from a semi-truck traveling ahead of him, smashing through his van’s windshield and causing significant injury, according to fire officials in McHenry County.

The incident occurred around 12:50 p.m. on December 5 in the 9200 block of South Grant Highway in unincorporated Marengo. First responders from the Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and the Union Fire Protection District arrived to find a work van with a large hole punched through its shattered windshield. The van belonged to ASAP Plumbing & HVAC, a Woodstock-based company.

According to CBS Chicago, investigators learned that the van was struck when a block of snow or ice fell off a semi-trailer truck, hitting the windshield with enough force to injure the driver. Paramedics evaluated the man on-scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital with moderate, non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Fire officials emphasized that the semi-truck did not remain at the scene, and it is unclear whether the truck driver realized what had happened. The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate.

Marengo fire officials issued a reminder urging all drivers—especially operators of high-profile vehicles such as semi-trucks, vans, and large commercial units—to clear accumulated snow and ice from their roofs before driving. “This incident serves as a reminder: taking a few extra minutes to clear your vehicle helps protect you and everyone else on the road,” the department said.

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